Scapegoat on strings
A loud voice corkscrewed in Sora's head. Blearily waking, he heaved Vanitas' legs aside and wrinkled his nose at the damp smell bleeding from the mildewed walls.
Where am I?
He groggily rubbed his eyes and flinched at a familiar tone yelling at him to wake up. His suit lay on the back of a chair. Vainly erasing the creases in his shirt, Sora grinned laconically at Apollo, wary of the senior's dangerously sharp fringe.
On the bed, Vanitas curled like a shrimp, the pillow a substitute for his soft toys.
"Wake up!" Apollo snapped from outside the cell. "Have you prepped for court?"
Blood draining from his cheeks, Sora shuffled to the bars and the guard let him out. He bowed politely, gaze lingering on his brother. Apollo clucked his tongue admonishingly and herded the skittish junior away from the cellar-like corridors, and into crisp sunshine. Squinting, Sora accepted a juice pack and sipped it contemplatively, mentally sifting through the probable flow of arguments. He checked his pocket, comforted by the strand of hair.
"I don't have time to go home and shower." He slurped, the refreshing citrus bubbling on his tongue. "Can I... may I borrow your clothes?" Justice nodded, eyebrows drawn. "Detective Skye will chew me like one of her snackoos," Sora groaned, "because I didn't dust the envelope for fingerprints." A taxi cab screeched to a halt on the sidewalk, it's bright yellow paint stabbing his eyeballs.
Sliding in the backseat, Apollo tossed a vending machine sandwich and a slice of cheesecake at his junior. "You are surprisingly calm, all things considered." The younger man giggled, the beginnings of hysteria. "So you finally cracked," he muttered. "How do you plan on defending Vanitas in court?"
"He's innocent."
"He's innocent isn't going to fly with Gavin and the Judge!" Apollo retorted. "You do have evidence against him, right?" Sora simply slurped. "...Right?"
09:45 a.m.
District Court
Courtroom lobby no 8
The rich wood paneling fascinated Sora. Court record open on a coffee table, he admired the varnish. In a corner, a lush pot plant softened the abrasively formal atmosphere and a distinguished judge kindly looked down at him from a framed portrait.
A canary yellow shirt complimented his charcoal grey suit jacket. Mr. Wright lent him a tie and despite the agency lining up to compliment and wish him well, Sora's mind constantly flitted to things apart from the impending trial. He sent a message to Riku, who will not be attending court. In fact, the KBWA kept themselves at arm's length and when Sora screwed up enough courage to ask Maya, she feigned ignorance, or she really doesn't know.
Olympus hung in the air, its presence small consolation. Gathering his folders, Sora mindlessly followed the bailiff into the courtroom and acknowledging the rival prosecutor, slid behind the bench. He smiled tepidly to his co-counsel, senior Apollo, and fussily arranged a pale grey scarf in front of his face.
The Judge marched in and a hushed silence followed.
Holding his breath while the Judge settled in the throne-like chair, Sora drafted counter-arguments. He listed cross-examination questions and reviewed evidence.
Bang!
"Ahem!" the Judge cleared his throat. "Court is now in session for the trial of Vanitas Clavius. This is the second time I'm presiding over his affairs." His attempt to lighten the atmosphere fell on the wrong end. "I will try my utmost best to listen to both sides and deliver a fair verdict," the judge announced, jovial expression unnaturally solemn. "Prosecutor Gavin, your opening statement please."
Klavier pounded his fist against the wall and the boom of subdued sound startled both attorneys. "Achtung. The victim is Kristoph Gavin." His glacial glare squashed a stray whisper. "A convict from Solitary Cell 13. The suspect is notorious for being at the wrong place at the wrong time," he tactfully stated. "It is what you call a locked room murder. Herr Judge," Klavier tugged his fringe, "we don't know how the suspect entered the cell." His gaze rested heavily on Sora.
He knows something is weird.
Tangerine outlines seeped through the courtroom's tall windows. The prosecution called the guard to the stand.
"Witness, please state your name and occupation," Gavin requested, leaning on his elbows.
Respectfully taking off his service hat, the witness dipped his head to the judge. "My name is Tobias Herzen." His composed voice reverberated in the courtroom. "I work as the chief warden at the Detention Center."
Straightening, the prosecutor snapped his fingers. "Herr Herzen, please testify what you witnessed on the night of the crime."
Replacing his cap, Tobias related, "I started my rounds. Mr. Gavin often requests stationary, he writes poetry and will at times, read a short poem to me." Klavier's jaw tightened. "This particular night, the smell of blood floated down the corridor and when I checked the cell, I found Clavius rising from the dead body." The glint of blood on a giant, stylized key. Its two turquoise irises zeroing on him. "Clavius did not offer an explanation of how or why he got in the cell, nor did he try to escape." Herzen observed the suspect, but Vanitas' expression remained guarded behind the helm of reflective glass. "...He did not attack me either and when I asked him to put his Keyblade away, he complied easily."
The end of the testimony garnered mixed reactions. One side twittered disbelievingly and cast pitying glances at the prosecutor; the other whispered about Vanitas.
"The defense may begin the cross-examination," the Judge prompted with a nod.
Admiring Klavier's professional detachment, Sora skimmed over the testimony highlights. No heartless. And I can't picture Mr. Herzen lying, he's too proper. Apollo twisted his bangle, forehead furrowed in intense concentration. "Mr. Tobias, didn't you find it odd as to why Mr. Gavin requested stationary-"
"Objection!" Klavier cut in smoothly, the pendant on his chest glinting cruelly. "Herr Judge, the attorney's line of questioning is irrelevant." He launched into an air-guitaring sequence. "Kristoph is fond of reading and writing, what has this have to do with the case?"
Banging his gavel to control the excitement from the gallery, the Judge pondered. "Objection sustained," he declared, much to Sora's horror. "Mr. Clavius, I will remind you to stay on topic."
Scrunching his lapel and brushing a thumb over his badge, Sora helplessly turned to Apollo. "I can't find any contradictions, there are no shadows," he muttered. "Also, Vanitas confirmed it with me, the witness isn't lying or hiding anything."
"I wonder." Justice drew taller, bristling when a tiny smile flitted across Klavier's handsome mien. "Don't you find it strange when he didn't call for backup on finding Vanitas in the cell?" Apollo questioned. "I would. No offence," he placated. "If a weirdo wearing a bodysuit and holding a giant key dripping in blood appeared where no one is supposed to be, I'd holler my head off. So why was Tobias so calm?"
He's a warden! He has seen things.
Straightening his shoulders to exhibit a confidence he did not feel, Sora laid his hands flat on the bench. "Mr. Herzen, I'm sure you are aware of the defendant's... uh... repute." In the dock, Vanitas idled on a chair. "Why didn't you call for backup? You said he held his Keyblade, am I correct?" The witness quietly confirmed. "This weapon is not standard arms, anyone would exercise caution. Why did you tackle the suspect by yourself?"
The courtroom held its breath for the response.
"Mr. Clavius, I have also heard of your repute," Herzen smiled kindly, "and the credentials of the agency you are affiliated to." The warden clasped the wooden railing. "I work with criminals and it may be boasting, but I understand them and your brother did not have a threatening aura."
Is this man for or against Vanitas?
Herzen continued, "As I mentioned before, he complied with my requests and did not try escaping." The witness coolly endured Apollo's razor sharp scrutiny, commanding respect from the courtroom personnel. Tufts of salt and pepper curls peeked from beneath his hat.
At a loss for words with the brutally honest witness, Sora crossed off several argument threads as they met a dead end. The state of the cell, with one melted steel bar, bothered him. "Mr. Herzen, one of the cell's rods is liquefied and the suspect confirmed he did it. Were you… were you not a little afraid what he might do to you?"
"Should I be? He's only a troubled young man."
Collecting his mouth from where it dropped on the bench, Sora blinked. The gallery broke into reverent murmuring and the Judge appraised the witness with a new glow of respect in his wizened eyes. Impassive, Klavier smashed his fist on the back wall, effectively centering the spotlight of attention on him.
Thrusting his hands in the pockets of his stained purple jeans, Klavier grinned mirthlessly at the defense. "I pride myself on a fair trial and with seeking the truth in court." He kept his gaze from drifting upwards to Phoenix Wright. "Will you agree Herr Tobias is an unbiased witness, Fluffy?" Sora meekly bobbed his head. "Even the one with the wide forehead can't find anything wrong with him, ja?" Justice grumbled under his breath. "Achtung, may we wrap this case up?"
"Hold it!" Sora aggressively slapped the bench. "I have one last question for the witness."
The prosecutor's eyebrows knit together, but he agreed. "Stop grasping at straws baby, it doesn't suit you."
Cheeks prickling, Sora raised his chin, "Mr. Tobias can you please verify a detail?" The testifier gravely inclined his head. "When you found Vanitas, was there blood on his suit?"
"Nein!" Klavier pounded his first on the bench, droplets of sweat on his forehead. "How many times should I repeat myself? Keep to the subject at hand." He scowled. "Herr Forehead!" Gavin snapped his fingers, "you're doing a poor job of mentoring your protégé." Apollo's fringe drooped dejectedly. "Witness," the prosecutor wagged his forefinger, "answer the attorney, let's rock."
Contemplating, Tobias smoothed his navy blue shirt. "No," he replied at last. "I don't think Mr. Clavius had blood on his suit." The prosecutor grilled him. "Yes Mr. Gavin," Tobias answered evenly, "I related everything I could. Whether the young man is guilty or not, is up to the honorable Judge to decide."
"More like senile judge." Recovering from the verbal lashing Klavier subjected him to, Apollo elaborated, "We don't have evidence to contradict his testimony and pressing him isn't working. Also, the witness is not lying..."
Desperately paging through his court record and coming up with nothing, Sora strangled himself with his muffler. Abruptly tossing a stack of documents to the pristine, tiled floor, he breathed deeply. The courtroom whirled and nausea gnawed the pit of his stomach. He pleadingly stared at Klavier, who awkwardly scratched the back of his head.
At the head of the courtroom, the Judge stalled. Did Vanitas Clavius really commit the murder? Or was he again the unfortunate scapegoat, his life mangled by strict, inflexible laws? "Before I pass the verdict," the Judge spoke. "Prosecutor Gavin, while I do not normally question your aptitude in court," he held his gavel in both hands, "can you absolutely say for certain you did not let your emotions sway you in this trial?"
Irises narrowing into livid pinpricks, Klavier smiled tightly. "Ach, your Honor," he solemnly voiced. "...I have no respect for the deceased." His statement shocked the court into silence. "Kristoph Gavin used to be a respectable lawyer, but he did not get there through honest merit. He may be my older brother, ja, but I have nothing against the accused. I am inspired by the chief prosecutor to seek the truth in the court."
At this, Sora unfolded from his miserable position and regarded Klavier with a measure of gratitude.
"I see. Then," the Judge raised his gavel, expression regretful, "I will now pronounce the defendant-"
"Objection!" a strident tone interjected.
The gavel slipped and the Judge fumbled for it. "Mr. Clavius!" he boomed. "You gave me a heart attack. Are you objecting to my verdict?"
Roughly flattening the scarf under his chin, Sora's eyes glittered defiantly. "Your honor, please... please let the defendant testify." He waited while the Judge conferred with Klavier who consented. "Thank you." His knees weakened in relief.
Escorted by a pair of vigilant bailiffs, Vanitas swaggered to the witness dock, the manacles on his wrists jingling. Snarling when a guard reached for his helmet, Vanitas rested his arms on the wooden railing.
"Witness," the prosecution began in a genteel tone. "State your name and occupation."
His brother kept a hawk eyed watch and Vanitas replied, "Vanitas Clavius. I am a Mid-tier member of the Keyblade Wielder's Association and a prototype hunter." Several people in the gallery twitched excitedly. "Currently, I am a kidnapped person." His grin turned vampiric. "A kidnapee of Organization-."
"Enough with the jokes," Klavier smoothly interjected and launched into an air-guitaring sequence. "Tell us what you did on the night of the crime." He touched his pendant. "I trust you to be truth-"
Rudely interrupting with a loud, indolent yawn, Vanitas tilted his head. "There is nothing to tell," he professed. "I killed Kristoph."
The defense irritably scrunched a paper in his fist while the Judge blinked rapidly, as if he did not believe what the suspect said.
"Organization XIII kept me on a loose leash." Vanitas hopped from one foot to the other. "And I got tired of the CEO's mood swings. The old fart," here, the Judge self-consciously neatened his robes, "did whatever he wanted with me. If he decided I can't go napping in my favorite spot, I had to listen to him. I demolished those ridiculously large ceremonial thrones in the hall and he nearly ripped my skin off."
Listening to Vanitas spout a slew of unnecessary information, Sora waited for Klavier to object. However, the accused kept the prosecutor entertained and even senior Apollo chuckled, covering it up with a cough.
"...so I got fed up and jumped in a dark... I mean; I broke out of my cell and hightailed it outta there." Encouraged by the attention, Vanitas furnished his testimony with details, his smoky helm reflecting a chamber of eager viewers. "Surprisingly, the hidden passage ended in Gavin's cell. I scared him pretty badly, I mean, he became as white as a ghost and to stop him from yelling for help, I..." Vanitas drew a thumb across his neck.
The universal sign of a killing.
Why are you confessing to lies?
Amusement fading, Klavier twirled his platinum blonde fringe. "Herr Clavius," he addressed the seething attorney, "you've heard it from your brother's mouth. He confessed to the crime-"
"Lies!" A wave of unversed spilled over Vanitas' boots and he shifted from foot to foot restlessly, stamping the weak monsters. "He's lying," Sora vehemently declared. "Vanitas, tell the truth. Why are you doing this to yourself? Why are you doing this to me?"
Catching a comment about courtroom dramas, Athena assessed the defendant's profile. Calm to the point of numbness, till Sora hissed at him. Vanitas' noise levels spiked at the moment along with an abnormal sensation of joy. She displayed the statistics to Wright, who clasped a magatama in his right palm. He grinned knowingly and resumed observing the wildly out of control trial.
Lately, a cloying reek accompanied Vanitas and despite the cologne, the smell penetrated, a constant undercurrent. "Firstly, your suit is free of blood stains. Judging from your proximity and Mr. Herzen's testimony, you should have some splatter on you. Secondly why on earth would you kill Mr. Gavin and let yourself be caught seconds later?" Sora's words fired like a machine gun. "And thirdly, out of all the possible places to end up, you found yourself in Mr. Gavin's cell? Why?" he challenged. "Does Organization XIII have ties to him?"
Opposite, Klavier broke down, fingers snatching handfuls of his short hair, dark face drenched with sweat. "Nein, what do you mean? Do you have proof Fluffy? If you're theorizing, Herr Judge has a sweet penalty for you, ja?" he glared at the Judge.
"Err... yes. Yes of course," the Judge stuttered. "Mr. Clavius, where is your evidence of Mr. Gavin having ties with Organization XIII?"
"Take that!" Triumphantly presenting the poetry passages, Sora deflated when the prosecutor raised a mocking eyebrow. "It's poetry," he explained.
"My brother may lack musical sense," Klavier did a tuning guitar motion, "but he can write killer lyrics and poetry baby." He slammed his hand on the polished bench. "Achtung, this poetry, is there anything wrong with it?"
Did the stage lights blind you, Mr. Glimmerous fop? "Poetry is written in a way where everything is implied," Sora argued. "If Mr. Gavin had nothing to hide in his poetry, why did the detective find them stashed in legal books?" The Judge, startled from the raised voice, looked up from his reading. "And why is there a passage from Organization XIII's place to Mr. Gavin's cell?"
Trucy sensed her father stiffen and concernedly squeezed his arm. He smiled disarmingly and pored over the events unfolding below.
"I... Ach." Klavier kneaded his forehead. "How are pages of secret poetry a confirmation of the deceased's relationships?" the prosecution pressed. "I understand the subtext," he fiddled with his piercings, "but subtext alone won't fly in court. The defendant confessed, dies is a fact." The attorney rebelliously muttered to himself. "Unless you have evidence to overthrow the dome head's claim?" Klavier confronted.
Evidence to contradict Vanitas?
I don't have anything.
Swallowing the overwhelming anxiety threatening to grind him into pieces, Sora calmly read from a sheet, "The defendant's... Vanitas' suit is free from blood. He has no other article of clothing on him... I don't have any other evidence," the attorney dejectedly stated. Apart from the strand of hair and it could be Kristoph's. "But my point stands." Sora glanced at the ceiling, obstinately disregarding the viewers' babbling about a lost case. "If the defendant is the murderer, why is there no blood on him?"
Reaching an impasse, the prosecutor raised his hand for permission and the Judge, impatient to be off for lunch, hesitantly humored him. "Herr Judge, I know this is long and frustrating. Perhaps playing one of my songs will liven you up, let's rock baby." He snapped his fingers and instantly, a Gavinner's solo pumped through the speakers. In the witness stand, Vanitas bopped his head to the music. "Achtung! Now, I'd like the court to be cleared for a special testimony." His suggestion raised poisonous gossip from the gallery. "Please clear out the peanut gallery, as Fraulein von Karma would've said, this is strictly KBWA business."
The Judge banged the gavel, the courtroom doors swung open, letting the audience outside.
Biting cold kept at bay with a leather jacket, Tifa circled the district court perimeter on a motorbike and stopped at a bored teenager scrolling through his newsfeed on a slick smart phone. Two pins gleamed on Sakuraba's funnel collar shirt and he stood to attention when the chief approached, her motorbike purring.
"The barrier is set," he informed and gestured to the crew. "We're linked with Shiki's group several meters back." The chief nodded and revved the bike. "I know it's not my place to say this," Neku tucked his phone in an oversized pocket, "but shouldn't someone be in there?" He jerked his chin to the towering court building. "To monitor things?"
Wind whipping her hair, Tifa swerved down a road, alert for stray nobodies. Classed an anomaly, King Mickey issued strict instructions to all members of the KBWA not to approach the Black Saint and the ever faithful Grey Knight upheld his policies with iron clad determination. Lea tried to sneak a meeting with his mentor; Tifa smiled at the memory of Vanitas aggressively insisting he be given a charge till Squall croaked his consent, but Nox found out and placed him under scrutiny.
Cream kimono jacket flapping in a stiff breeze, Maya waved to the chief when she zipped across. Next to her and entirely uncomfortably, Isa arranged a multilayered barrier across the district court. The last node activated and with the Fey's blessing, a translucent barricade shimmered through the air. His deed done, he raised his arm to tear open a dark corridor and Maya smacked his shoulder.
"You can't," she admonished. "If you're going to be the next vice-chief, you have to start by obeying the rules."
Crescent studs winking in his earlobes, Isa scowled. "I'm not accepting position of vice-chief," he emotionlessly droned. "You're the only one pushing me into this responsibility. Tifa... Chief Lockhart proposed the position to you."
Where she got her burger, he only wondered. Maya tore a hefty chunk and chewed, the aroma of melted cheese and beef wafted in the air. "Don't be ridiculous!" She grinned leisurely. "I'm doing the KBWA a favor. I belong to the Wright Anything Agency... well, Nick changed it back to the Wright and Co. Law agency but I prefer the old name, it had so much potential." She offered her burger to Saix who glared at the food, glared at her and eventually relented, taking a dainty bite. "You did vice-chief duties at Organization XIII didn't you?"
He froze, shoulders sagging. "Yes."
"It's nothing to be ashamed of, you had to do what you had to do." The magatama glowed a faint gold atop of her clothes. "Besides, you have experience. I'm sure you will do a great-"
The rest of her words drowned in the rumble of a garbage truck passing by and the Lockhart squealed to a stop. She undid her helmet and as was her habit from the vice-chief days, sent an abridged report to Leon."
"All points are secure," she reported with an anxious glance at the people pouring out of the courtroom gates and passing through the barrier, none the wiser. "According to our operative inside the courtroom, the prosecutor asked for everyone to leave because they will be forcing a special testimony out of Vanitas."
Maya patted her mouth with a napkin. "What do you mean, forcing?" she questioned. "Didn't he raise the roof by swearing he didn't do the crime? He's always loud and boisterous. It's fun to have him around at the agency even if he gives Nick a headache." She tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear.
"Vanitas confessed he did the crime," Tifa explained. Her stomach growled and she frowned. "I'm not sure if it's true or not." Leon insisted Vanitas could never do such a thing. "But he obstinately sticks to his story. We don't know what transpired during his time at Organization XIII and now we cannot approach him. It might be Xehanort's bait, it might not... I'm not sure anymore." Blue bags ringed her eyes. "Maya, try and find out what happens after the trial. Also, you haven't processed the paperwork needed for Princess Jasmine's request. I stayed up all night to finish your job," Tifa grumbled good-naturedly.
Pulling out another burger from her billowing, lilac sleeves, Maya passed it to Tifa and Isa bemusedly watched the chief wolf it down without second thought. "I'm not good with paperwork and I have other responsibilities-"
"The Los Angeles KBWA branch started out under the jurisdiction of the Fey, it's by time you initiated an interest in it again," Isa stated blandly. "I'll use the bike to pick Lea up and head to Clavius' apartment. We have to make sure the King does not suspect a thing. And Lea's going stir crazy."
Swinging a leg over the seat, Isa started the bike, somewhat intimidated by the prospect of zooming down streets teeming with people and wasting time on a journey. Acknowledging the two women with a discreet nod, he sped away, leaving the air reeking of exhaust.
03:05 p.m.
District court
Courtroom no. 8
A couple of bailiffs. Phoenix Wright and his lawyers. The prosecutor and Tobias Herzen, who requested to be present; remained in the courtroom.
"Now then." The Judge folded his arms. "The courtroom is cleared. Defendant, you may testify freely. I have managed a lot of cases over the years," he tugged his bushy beard, "and I am prepared to listen to you without prejudice. Bear in mind your testimony is your evidence, this is a special case."
Bang!
Finishing an air-guitaring sequence, Klavier slammed his hand on the desk. "Tell us what you did on the night of the crime," he ordered. "Don't censor anything. Herr Clavius, please, this trial depends on you." Gavin's grim expression reflected off the helm.
"Like I said," Vanitas drawled, his words crisp despite the dark glass obscuring his head. "I killed Kristoph. My suit is free of blood because I avoided the initial spray and wiped the rest. Besides, if you ask the KBWA, they will tell you the wounds on the deceased's body matches my fighting style-"
"Vani!" Sora bellowed and the accused clamped up like a disturbed clam. "You are annoying me. Your testimony is annoying. Your attitude is grating on my nerves and I'm reaching the limit of my patience with your... your LIES!" Apollo grabbed Sora's shoulders to stop him from shaking. "What's wrong with you?" he shrieked and the Judge gasped, astonished by the timid attorney's scalding volume. "You don't have a motive. You don't stand to gain anything by murdering Kristoph either than a lifetime of... of... prison?"
His twin picked the skin tight bodysuit, his stature one of fear.
Vanitas wants to go to prison?
Think! Sora drew his muffler over his chin and trawled through the reasons for his brother's stubborn lies. He'd never lie to me. Is he protecting me?
"You may begin the cross-examination," the Judge prompted belatedly.
Furiously jotting the ideas skimming off the top of his mind, Sora drew courage from his attorney badge. "Are you protecting me?" he demanded sharply. "Vani, speak! Stop covering for a murderer's crimes, it makes you no better."
The raven haired man shuffled, fingers skimming the smooth grain of the pale wood constructing the witness stand.
"Please let me do this for you," Sora begged. "For once, let me be the one doing the protecting."
Silence.
Thick.
Choking.
Widget's holographic screen showed dipping noise levels. Once it reached zero, the noise spiked. The frenzied graph worried Athena when the defendant remained quiet in the stand.
"Xemnas." The whisper echoed from wood paneled walls. "Organization XIII went to another micro-planet," Vanitas disregarded the prosecutor and Judge's disbelief, "and they kidnapped me there. Kristoph Gavin is an informant. I knew the superior would come to him for information. It was my only escape." He wrung his hands. "When the dark corridor opened, I waited till he vanished and jumped in, right before it closed. I can't create one, the… the KBWA forbids it. And when I arrived... he... Mr. Gavin..."
He tumbled out of the endless swathes of darkness and drew back in surprise, lower back smashing against the nearby bureau and upsetting a fancy bottle of clear nail polish. Kristoph, on the throes of death, toppled out of his chair and Vanitas softened his fall, laying the body face down on the concrete floor.
"…Was already dead." Vanitas admitted. "Xemnas killed Kristoph because he knew too much."
Xemnas Terra-Xehanort.
Sora grinded his teeth. The Judge closed the proceedings for the day.
I will drag you out from the depths of whatever hell you call your home.
Windflower
Late night
Olympus
Stars streaked across Olympus' ancient, myth steeped sky. For a while, Aqua attempted to teach Ventus the constellations, but the names continued to escape him. Each evening, he perched on the edge of a dangerously crumbling balcony and waited for a meteor shower.
The delicate, pale blue petals of a withered windflower rotting in a bell jar showed no signs of revival.
She warned him to be careful when he brazenly dangled his legs at the edge of the world. Below lay a sea of clouds, hiding the ruined mountain valley town from view. At long last, the heavens answered Ven's prayers.
The meteor shower began.
His cold, gold irises ignited, shifting to a familiar bright blue. A smile split his face and he rocked to his feet, chirping excitedly. Listening to him, Aqua smoothed his unruly locks and he protested like a child before hugging her unexpectedly.
"I miss Terra," the words came out muffled. "Do you think we can save him?" Ven asked, petite arms tightening around Aqua's waist. "This," he rummaged in his pocket, pulling out their wayfinders, "I have this, we should find him, right?"
Ven, you need to let us go.
Of course, she could never tell him that.
Instead, Aqua smiled. "Yes." She pressed her cheek against his forehead. "We will find Terra. I'm sure he's waiting for us."
A/N: I enjoy writing Sora flying off his rockers; it's so liberating to have him rage and spill over while Vanitas is the one cowering and being timid. Out of all the prosecutors, Klavier is the one I hated the least, he's helpful in his own way whereas Edgeworth and his sister are lovable devils.
Please read and review. Ventus needs the company